Government proposes banning third-country election consultations

Lithuania's government on Wednesday proposed to the parliament to adopt amendments that would ban election consultations from third-country representatives and also increase amounts individual candidates and parties van spend on elections.

Such amendments have been drawn up by the Ministry of Justice. They state that election participants would only be allowed to sign agreements on the organization of political campaigns, consultations and training with legal and natural persons from EU, EEA and NATO countries.

"Speaking about the upcoming elections, experts see the threat of the so-called black technology when specialist from countries unfriendly to Lithuania might assist participants of political campaigns," Justice Minister Elvinas Jankevičius said in a statement.

Lithuania will hold presidential EP, municipal and direct mayoral elections next year. Lithuania's intelligence warned last spring that Russia might try to influence political and civic processes in Lithuania during the upcoming elections.